Organizing Ideas

10 things to do in December

With the holiday season is upon us, make the most of this month by tackling these tasks.

As the song says, it's the most wonderful time of the year – and it only lasts a few weeks. Avoid seasonal stress by staying organized and having realistic expectations of what you can achieve. To help you make the most of the holiday season, here are 10 things to do this December.

1 Clean out the freezer
It's all too easy to let food accumulate in the freezer – and before long, not only is it too crowded to make room for more, but there are items in the back that should probably be thrown away. Set aside some time to organize your freezer – you may be amazed at what you'll find in there.

2 Make a wreath
Not only is a wreath on the front door inviting, but it really makes a house look like a home. If you've got the time, add a personal touch to your outdoor decor by making your own instead of buying one. And if you're really feeling inspired, make two and give the second to a friend as an early Christmas gift.

3 Get organized for gift wrapping
To save time during the hectic Christmas shopping season, set up a gift-wrapping station in an out-of-the-way spot in your home -- it will make it easy to wrap gifts as you buy them, and you won't be hunting around the house for the scissors, silver ribbon or gift tags. If you haven't got the space for a separate gift-wrapping table, put all your supplies in a couple of wicker baskets in the closet or under the bed for easy access.

4 Decorate the kitchen
Don't limit your holiday accents to the living room and entryway -- think about ways you can bring the spirit of the season into every room, including the kitchen. Try decorating the windowsill with candles and cedar boughs, putting a miniature Christmas tree on a shelf or draping doorways with garlands. For a finishing touch, simmer spices in water on the back of the stove to infuse your home with the comforting scent of cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.

5 Cook up some appetizers
Get ready for guests – whether expected or impromptu – by preparing a selection of appetizers ahead of time. Just pick recipes that can be made in advance and frozen, and you could have a season's worth of hors d'oeuvres ready in an afternoon.

6 Host a cookie exchange
Rather than devoting hours of free time to baking each of your favourite holiday treats, arrange an exchange with friends and family. Organize it so that each person bakes a different type of cookie, enough to share around with everyone in the group. Don't forget to make a few extras to serve while everyone's exchanging the goods!

7 Hang some mistletoe
The custom of kissing under the mistletoe is said to come from an ancient Scandinavian tradition that when enemies met in the forest under mistletoe, they were to lay down their arms and observe a truce for the following day. Continue the tradition by hanging mistletoe in your home during the holiday season – and spread peace and goodwill among your guests.

8 Donate to the food bank
During this season of feasting, remember those who are less fortunate by bringing non-perishable food items or a monetary donation to your local food bank. Consider offering your time, as well, to help sort donations or perform other necessary tasks.

9 Let in the fresh air
It may be getting chilly outside, but that's no reason to keep the windows locked tight. Shutting up the house lets indoor pollutants accumulate, especially if it's fairly new and therefore airtight. Let in the cool, crisp air of early winter by opening the windows for a few minutes daily – longer if the weather is cooperating – and enjoy the fresh scent of a well-aired home.

10 Make homemade eggnog
Eggnog is so rich and sinfully delicious, it's probably a good thing we don't drink it all year round. So don't settle for nog in a carton – it's easy to make your own, and the results are well worth the time spent.

Budget decorating

5 ways to get the marble look without the marble price

Few materials strike a chord with us in the same way that marble does. The sought-after stone, with its subtle sheen and veined markings, is quick to catch the eye and lends a luxe look to a space without being over the top. The downside, of course, is its price point. Here are 5 marble-like options that will achieve the same sophisticated, formal look for a fraction of the cost.

Photo Gallery

5 budget-friendly marble alternatives

Vinyl floor tile

Looking for a faux marble tile that can handle heavy foot traffic? Consider peel-and-stick vinyl floor tiles. In addition to their resilient nature, the tiles can be installed over most existing flooring. In other words, they make for a perfect weekend DIY project that won’t end in defeat. TrafficMaster Premium Vinyl Tile in Carrara Marble, Home Depot, starting at $0.89/sq. ft.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Brittany Devenyi
Source: The Home Depot

5 budget-friendly marble alternatives

Contact paper

If you love the marbled look, you’ll want to customize all of your furniture with this stylish contact paper. The affordable material has a peel-away backing that can stick to almost any surface, from the top of a coffee table to the inside of kitchen drawers. Keep in mind that the paper doesn’t react well to water, so avoid using it in the bathroom or near the kitchen sink. Marble Contact Paper in Marmi Grey, Design Your Wall, $59.99 per roll.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Brittany Devenyi
Source: Style at Home

5 budget-friendly marble alternatives

Ceramic wall tile

Elevate your living space with ceramic wall tiles that mimic the look of marble like this elegant option from Ciot. Though similar in appearance, ceramic is far more delicate than marble and is therefore more susceptible to chips and cracks. The solution: Be strategic with placement, avoiding high-traffic areas in favour of bathroom walls or backsplashes. Marvel Wall Tile in Calacatta Extra, Ciot, see store for pricing.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Brittany Devenyi
Source: Ciot

5 budget-friendly marble alternatives

Porcelain tile

Porcelain is another classic material that boasts marble's polished aesthetic without the hefty price tag. The tile is more resilient than ceramic, which makes it perfect for flooring as well as bathroom walls and kitchen backsplashes. Let's just say marble-inspired porcelain has the ability to make any space sparkle. Glazed Porcelain Tiles in White, Olympia Tile + Stone, see store for pricing.

5 budget-friendly marble alternatives

Laminam

If you’re not yet familiar with Laminam, allow us to be the first to introduce you. The innovative material is touted as being the world’s first porcelain tile that's offered in 3 metre by 1 metre panels and is thinner than standard porcelain tiling. This means that in addition to covering existing walls and floors, Laminam can take on an array of delicate surfaces (think fireplace surrounds, kitchen countertops and outdoor areas). I Naturali Laminam in Bianco Statuario, Stone Tile, see store for pricing.

House tour: Modern monochromatic Victorian home

House Tours

House tour: Modern monochromatic Victorian home

A fashion photographer and online gallery owner transforms her home into a work of art.

The most effective galleries draw you in and make you feel welcome and inspired, as their artwork guides you from room to room, piquing your interest at each glance. Though this impeccably appointed house is not a gallery, it was decorated with the expert eye of a fashion photographer and online gallery owner, and its effect is the same: It beckons you to explore each corner and ask about every piece.

“I’ve always felt that my home is more about showcasing art than it is about design,” says Maude Arsenault, who lives in this approximately 3,000-square-foot Victorian in Montreal’s Outremont neighbourhood with her film director husband, Eric Tessier, and their three children.

Not surprisingly, every single wall is white (what gallery’s walls aren’t?). Warm and cool shades, high-gloss and eggshell finishes and wall treatments ranging from beadboard in the dining room to brick in the living room ensure the effect isn’t too sterile.

Photo Gallery

House tour: Modern monochromatic Victorian home

Gallery-like home

Step inside this chic gallery-like home and you'll be met by beautiful barely there artwork - the compelling gaze of a gorgeous face photographed by Maude herself.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Iris Benaroia
Source: Angus McRitchie

House tour: Modern monochromatic Victorian home

White living room

Layers of texture and solid hits of black keep the all-white living room super cozy. So it's fitting that this is where the family spends the most time in winter, enjoying the plush seating and warm fire. Organizing idea: Store firewood in plain sight - it makes for a textural rustic-chic accent that's both decorative and functional.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Iris Benaroia
Source: Angus McRitchie

House tour: Modern monochromatic Victorian home

Artwork

The freckled face above the fireplace lends the living room personality. Maude's sole piece of vintage artwork sits on its side, grabbing the eye's attention, and has a remarkable story behind it: Shot in 1968, the photograph is from a series that followed Bobby Kennedy's funeral train from New York to Washington, capturing the mourning public standing in salute.

House tour: Modern monochromatic Victorian home

Matte black quartz

The marble perimeter countertops are difficult for a busy family to maintain, Maude admits, but she loves the Matte black quartz on the kitchen island.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Iris Benaroia
Source: Angus McRitchie

House tour: Modern monochromatic Victorian home

Light and airy dining room

The light, white and airy dining room, which leads to the backyard, is a favourite space in this house - especially come summer. To maximize brightness, homeowner Maude Arsenault had the parquet floors and beadboard walls painted white.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Iris Benaroia
Source: Angus McRitchie

House tour: Modern monochromatic Victorian home

Dining room art

The dining room photograph is one of Maude's favourite pieces.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Iris Benaroia
Source: Angus McRitchie

House tour: Modern monochromatic Victorian home

Monochromatic staircase

The black, white and wood entryway sets the tone for the whole home, which exudes the same modern classic vibe. This streamlined setup sends your eye immediately to the artwork resting casually on the floor - a moody shot of grassy rock terrain, which provides a whisper of colour ot the space.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Iris Benaroia
Source: Angus McRitchie

House tour: Modern monochromatic Victorian home

Hallway

The upstairs hallway features smaller works of art, including some pieces from friends.

Image by: Style at Home
By: Iris Benaroia
Source: Angus McRitchie

House tour: Modern monochromatic Victorian home

Peaceful master bedroom

"Books, lights, a chair and a bed - the master bedroom is very simple," says Maude. Above all else, she wanted it to feel peaceful, which is precisely why she chose the rose artwork for above the bed. "I love that it's dramatic but not upbeat," she says. "I find it so calming and self-reflective."

Image by: Style at Home
By: Iris Benaroia
Source: Angus McRitchie

House tour: Modern monochromatic Victorian home

Coffee spot

The sidechair and side table in the master bedroom offer a quaint place to enjoy a coffee while overlooking the huge tree in the backyard.

Recipes

Recipe: Chocolate mascarpone tarts

Enjoy these simple to make and easy to customize chocolate mascarpone tarts

We’ve all been at a dinner party and witnessed the dessert snub – a guest’s nose not-so-subtly turned up at something the host or hostess has laboured over. That will never be the case with these delectable mini tarts, thank you very much. Simple to make and easy to customize, they come with options to suit every palate. We’ll raise a dessert fork to that!

1 To make the pastry, beat the butter with the sugar in a medium bowl until light and fluffy; beat in the egg yolk and vanilla until combined.

2 In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder and salt; add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture and stir until smooth.

3 Divide the pastry among eight 4" mini tart pans with removable bottoms, pressing the pastry into the bottoms and up the sides of the pans; prick the bottoms all over with a fork.

4 Refrigerate the pastry shells on a rimmed baking sheet until chilled, about 30 minutes.

5 Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line each shell with foil and fill with pie weights or dried beans. Bake on the bottom rack of the oven for 8 minutes. Gently remove the weights and foil; continue to bake the shells until the pastry is no longer shiny, about 10 minutes more. Let the shells cool in the pans on a rack.

6 Meanwhile, make the filling. In a large bowl, beat together the mascarpone cheese and icing sugar until smooth. Fold in the whipped cream in three additions. Divide the mascarpone mixture among separate small bowls. Add your flavourings of choice and scoop the mascarpone filling into the tart shells.

7 Add your desired toppings; serve.

Makes: 8 tarts

Try one of our four favourite flavours

1 Double Raspberry: Fold a dash of raspberry liqueur into the mascarpone filling; top the tart with fresh raspberries, strawberries and blueberries.